The Drama Review: High-octane, controversial, and superb
I had no idea what to expect from this film beyond the fact that it'd probably be a drama and that I'd enjoy the performances. I didn't even read a pitch or watch a trailer, which I don't usually do since I love going in blind. So, how did this film fare against a month full of both highs and lows so far? That's what I, Brighton Nelson, will be exploring in this Reel Ranker review.
As usual, I'll commence the review with the negatives. Simply put, some of the main cast are way too hypocritical for me to care about their fear in relation to Zendaya's character. While hypocrisy is always an interesting plot element, I felt it struggled to find the right lane to approach this idea. Another rather weak element was the ending. The climax was awesome, but the very last note the film leaves on was a bit of a whimper. Not bad, but it's a little too ambiguous in its messaging. It doesn't go fully hopeful or wholly sinister; instead, it goes for a messy in-between. While I like more mundane, human endings like this in concept, the execution here just felt a little rushed.
However, neither of those elements truly detracts from the effective character and narrative elements present here. This film offers a supremely interesting "what if?" scenario, and the rest of the film plays out the repercussions of this insane inciting incident. While I don't like to get into spoiler territory, I will say that Zendaya's character does something bizarre, scary, and controversial, and the film's drama primarily centers on that. The way this plays out in a more subdued manner before crescendoing into a tense climax was really well done.
Pattinson really does a great job playing a scared and scarred individual trying to process his predicament. Zendaya's innate innocence and likability make for a character that is equally questionable and relatable while delving into deep, interesting, relevant themes. The standout performance for me had to be Alana Haim's character, Rachel—who is a friend of the couple of Zendaya and Pattinson—becomes an absolute menace and antagonist as the film goes on. She's truly a screen-stealer, and simply way too exuberant not to be entertained by.
The Reel Ranker Verdict
Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 95%
Letter Score: S+
Star Ranking: 5 out of 5
The Drama certainly has some unbelievability with the way the characters act and it struggles to pull off its ending. However, with entertaining performances and a gripping hook, but it presents a huge "what if?" that devolves into an intense domestic drama, culminating in a compelling climax.
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